Odisha's three major political parties - ruling BJD, opposition Congress and BJP -, launched "padayatras" on Wednesday as the state celebrated Mahatma's Gandhi's 150th birth anniversary.
Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik launched BJD's 'Jan Sampark Padayatra' in Bhubaneswar and called upon people to follow Gandhiji's 'Ahimsa' (non-violence) principle, Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan kick-started BJP's month-long "Gandhi Sankalp Jatra' in Cuttack.
People from all walks of life including leaders of BJD and Congress also paid rich tributes to former Prime Minister Lal Bahadur Shastri on his 115th birth anniversary.
Congress too started its 'Ahimsa Padayatra' programme from Gandhi Park in Bhubaneswar. The Congress march seeks to create awareness among the people on the use of religion in politics and spread the message of non-violence among the people, said AICC general secretary Jitendra Singh.
OPCC president Niranjan Patnaik said the Ahimsa Padayatra, slated to continue till November 14, will be held in all the 314 blocks of Odisha.
The Congress activists walked four km from Gandhi Park to Congress Bhawan where a meeting was held.
After launching the BJP's programme, Pradhan said they will spread the message of cleanliness, sanitation, adverse impact of plastic use and importance of good health. Union Minister Pratap Sarangi, former Union Minister and MP Jual Oram, Bhubaneswar MP Aparajita Sarangi, BJP vice-prsident Baijayant Panda and many other saffron leaders participated in the padayatra programme held in different parts of the state.
BJD president and Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik announced that his party would start Social Service wing of the regional party to work for clean, green environment, blood donation and health.
Patnaik called upon party workers to follow Mahatma's Ahimsa principle for the overall development of the state.
In a separate event, freedom fighters assembled at a National Integration Conclave here and paid rich tributes to the Father of the Nation.
While addressing the National Integration Conclave, the chief minister said the Father of the Nation was not a political personality, but a saint and a social reformer.
"His mesmerising personality had tied the entire nation into one thread," Patnaik said adding Mahatma Gandhi was the true symbol of national integration.
The chief minister said Mahatma Gandhi was fighting not only for independence but was also working towards nation-building.
"We can solve many of our problems through adherence to the Mahatma's non-violence principles," he said.
The chief minister also reiterated his demand for incorporating the word 'Ahimsa' (non-violence) in the Preamble of the Constitution.
In another programme, groups of "sankirtan mandali" (a group of devotional singers) performed on the road and chanted Gandhiji's "Ram dhoon" to the tune of "Mrudang and Jhanj" (musical instruments).
A large number of school children, donning Gandhiji's attire, were also seen undertaking "pravat karikrama" (morning round).
A 4-km-long human chain was also formed from Acharya Vihar to AG Square in the state capital as part of efforts to propagate the ideals of Gandhiji.
Many schools and educational institutions organised essay, debate and other programme marking the 150th birth anniversary of the Father of the Nation.
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